Former Yankee Shane Spencer Hired as Hitting/3B Coach for Somerset Patriots
January 8, 2013 · Devon Teeple · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The five-time Atlantic League Champion Somerset Patriots have hired Shane Spencer as their hitting and third base coach. For those who don’t remember, Shane Spencer was in large part responsible for one of the greatest playoff moments in the history of the game.
In Game 3 of the 2001 American League Division series, Terrance Long hit a lined shot down the right-field line. With Jeremy Giambi rounding third, right fielder Spencer overthrew the cut-off man, resulting in Derek Jeter—completely out of place—picking up the errant throw. With a backhand flip to catcher Jorge Posada, he tagged out Giambi at home, turning the tide of the series.
Shane Spencer spent parts of seven seasons in the Bigs, five of those with the New York Yankees.
Never the main attraction, Spencer was one of those irreplaceable pieces of the Yankee’s dynasty in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In nearly 1,700 career at-bats, Spencer collected 84 doubles, belted 59 home runs and knocked in 242. He batted .262 with an OPS of .754.
According to The Messenger-Gazette, Spencer will be replacing Travis Anderson, who has served as the hitting/third base coach since 2010. Anderson will continue to stay on with the team in other capacities.
According to Brett Jodie, manager of the Patriots who spoke with the Gazette, Spencer’s knowledge and experience will be of great value.
“Shane brings a wealth of knowledge to our staff. His experiences as a player and coach will be extremely valuable in helping us produce a championship caliber team. I very much look forward to working with him towards our common goal.”
The Patriots begin play at home on April 18. If you are looking for more information on Spencer and the Patriots, please visit their website.
Devon is a manager at a financial institution in Northern Ontario, Canada, and he can be reached at devon@thegmsperspective.com. You can follow the GM’s Perspective on Twitter and Facebook. His full bio can be seen here.
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